Chapter 16

"..................."

Koneko fell into a brief silence.

"Let me tell Senpai a story," Koneko said slowly after a few seconds.

...................

"Once upon a time, in the Underworld, there were two little cats who depended on each other to survive, a black cat and a white cat."

"Though they often went hungry, they lived relatively happily by relying on each other."

"One day, a devil took them in. The older black cat, who could transform, became a peerage member of that devil, giving both cats a life where they no longer had to starve."

"The black cat possessed exceptional talent and quickly rose to the top among the devil's peerage."

"But too much power isn't always a good thing. The black cat's talent was so immense that she surpassed her master in a short time."

"In the end, whether due to arrogance or her nature, the black cat killed her master and became a powerful stray devil, so strong that even the Underworld's law enforcement couldn’t capture her."

"Some people in the Underworld believed the remaining white cat was also a ticking time bomb, another potential traitor. They wanted to dispose of her before it was too late."

"At that time... a great person stood against the majority, kept the white cat alive, and found a master for her. That white cat... lived on."

By the time Koneko finished the story, her golden eyes shimmered with tears.

"That little white cat is you, Koneko..." Shoyo said softly, his heart aching. Even though he already knew the story, hearing it directly from her, and seeing her tear-streaked face, moved something within him.

"Mm... that’s right. I just didn’t expect Onee-sama to come looking for me. She once easily killed her High-class devil master... I’m worried she might do something to Buchou..."

"Don’t worry. If she’s after anyone, it’s likely me. Just stay by my side, Koneko." Shoyo gently stroked Koneko’s white hair, a doting look in his eyes. Was he a cat person in a past life?

"We're here," Koneko whispered. While they were talking, the two had already reached the door to the Occult Research Club.

"Click"

With a soft sound, Shoyo opened the door.

"Buchou, I brought Shoyo-senpai." A trace of tears lingered in Koneko’s eyes, but Rias didn’t notice. Her gaze was locked onto Shoyo.

"Thank you, Koneko. You must be Shoyo-kun. I’m Rias Gremory, president of this school’s Occult Research Club, and a devil" said the crimson-haired girl as she extended her hand.

"I guess this counts as meeting you again, Rias Buchou. I already know about devils." Shoyo smiled and took her hand. After all, Rias was one of the most beautiful and well-known students in the school, they were hardly strangers.

"Ara ara, Shoyo-kun. Here’s some hot tea, yo" A beautiful girl in a traditional Japanese outfit walked over gracefully. Her most prominent feature was her, well, quite generous figure.

"Thank you, Akeno-senpai. You’re the captain of the tea ceremony club, right? I didn’t expect to taste your tea personally."

"Ara ara thank you for the compliment, Kouhai" Himejima Akeno smiled and gently touched her cheek.

"I’m Kiba Yuuto. Also a devil," the blond boy said with a pleasant smile.

"Nice to meet you, Kiba-kun. I’m Shoyo. Just a human." Shoyo raised an eyebrow, smiling. That reaction was natural, he hadn’t expected Kiba Yuuto to trigger three system missions at once?!


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[Ding!]

[Congratulations to the host for triggering a location sign-in! Sign-in level: Bronze!]
[Sign-in location: Kiba Yuuto’s Demon Sword!]
[Time limit: 1 hour]

[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for triggering a location sign-in! Sign-in level: Silver!]
[Sign-in location: Kiba Yuuto’s Holy Sword!]
[Time limit: 2 months]

[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for triggering a location sign-in! Sign-in level: Silver!]
[Sign-in location: Kiba Yuuto’s Sword of Holy and Demonic Swords!]
[Time limit: 2 months]


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Kiba Yuuto… The quality of the missions you triggered isn’t great, but the quantity more than makes up for it. If luck is on my side, that’s enough.

"Just a human? Shoyo-kun says he’s just a human? That’s modest, considering you repelled Kuroka, someone even the Underworld’s enforcers can’t catch." Rias sipped her tea, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. She knew her relationship with Shoyo was shallow compared to Sona’s. Still, she had one goal, to recruit Shoyo into her peerage before Sona could. This was a game of “snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.”

"I was just running constantly. She couldn't catch me, that’s all." Shoyo shrugged. Truthfully, he couldn’t defeat Kuroka, unless he wanted to get paralyzed.

"Shoyo-kun, since you already understand the devil world, I’ll be direct. I need your strength. I want you to join my peerage," Rias said seriously, her sapphire-blue eyes firm.

She didn’t want to marry Raiser Phenex, a scumbag with a harem of all-female peerage members. Rumors even said he added his own sister to it to complete his “collection.” No way. She absolutely refused to become his bride. Even if it meant going to war in a Rating Game, she would win back her right to choose. For that... she needed powerful peerage members.

Koneko had said Shoyo repelled an High-class devil right after awakening his hero bloodline. Even most Sacred Gear users couldn’t do that. He was the ideal candidate.

"Become a peerage member? Rias Buchou means... becoming a devil?" Shoyo narrowed his eyes.

He had already analyzed his body’s energy during class. There was a faint amount of demonic energy inside, likely from six Pawn pieces, one Rook, and one Knight being used on him.

To actually convert him into a devil, they’d probably need a truckload of devil pieces. And that was only if he was willing.

But if he wasn’t?

He could use the authority of [Krishna] to devour all that energy, converting it into the purest spiritual power.


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Krishna, also spelled "Kṛṣṇa," means “black” in Sanskrit. Sometimes translated as “dark one” or “black sky.”

Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Black absorbs all seven colors of the spectrum, symbolizing how he encompasses all beauty and attraction.


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So in theory, he could really absorb an entire truckload of devil pieces and convert them to raw strength.

If only there were enough to consume.

Rias frowned slightly at Shoyo’s reaction. He seemed... reluctant?

"Yes. Becoming my peerage member means becoming a devil. But please don’t misunderstand, Shoyo-kun."

"Modern devils aren’t evil. We don’t steal souls or cause wars like in human legends."

"I understand that. Rias-senpai is the perfect example of a modern devil," Shoyo replied with a calm smile.

"I’m glad you understand. So... what do you think about joining my peerage?" Rias asked again.

"This..................." Shoyo paused.

"Becoming my peerage member comes with many advantages. Not only would you have the protection of a Maou, but you'd also enjoy the training resources of the Gremory family."

"There are material benefits too, though I doubt you care much for those, but I’ll still mention them."

"The Gremory family possesses hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of territory. I’m the next head of the family. If you become my peerage member................"

Rias spoke persuasively. She didn’t have strong feelings for Shoyo, certainly not like Sona did. But if persuasion could work, then she’d pull every card she had to make it happen.

What Shoyo didn’t say was that at that moment...


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[Ding!]

[Congratulations to the host for triggering a story sign-in! Sign-in level: Gold!]


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